On May 31st, the launching ceremony of the 2024 Looking China Youth Film Project-Guizhou took place at GZU. The event was hosted by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture (AICCC) of Beijing Normal University and the Huilin Culture Foundation. The Film and Television Communication Committee of the China Association of Higher Education provided academic support. The School of Communication of GZU served as the organizing party.

The ceremony was attended by Zhang Dalin, Vice President of GZU; Luo Jun, Vice Dean of the AICCC of Beijing Normal University; and Min Jie, Deputy Director of the International Communication Center of Guizhou Daily. Also present were heads of GZU’s Publicity Department, Student Work Department, Graduate Work Department, Office of International Relations, and School of Communication; Geoff Poister, Associate Professor at Boston University and foreign mentor to this program; and more than 30 young participants from China and abroad.

In his speech, Zhang Dalin emphasized that GZU, with its emphasis on expanding international exchanges and cooperation in its educational efforts, is committed to promoting cross-cultural communication. This year marks the fourth time that GZU has collaborated with the Looking China project. The 2024 Looking China Youth Film Project, themed “Beautiful China: Travels, Delicacies, and Beautiful Scenery”, not only provides a valuable filmmaking opportunity for young people from China and abroad but also builds a solid bridge for cultural exchange. Zhang Dalin expressed hope that young foreign filmmakers could fully capture and showcase the beauty of China and the vibrancy of Guizhou through their lenses.

Luo Jun thanked GZU on behalf of the sponsors. He noted that the Looking China project has been held for thirteen consecutive years, engaging 1,009 young participants from 102 countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Georgia, India, Singapore, and South Korea. Participants have produced 951 short films. The project has become an important bridge connecting young people from China and abroad and a highly influential cross-cultural communication brand. Luo Jun stated that since the project’s collaboration with GZU began, significant achievements have been made, and he looks forward to this year’s activities in Guizhou yielding even more fruitful results.

Geoff Poister spoke highly of the delicacies, beautiful scenery and particularly agreeable climate in Guizhou. He expressed hope that participants could create more outstanding works by immersing themselves in Chinese culture and Guizhou’s local customs through this year’s Looking China-Guizhou.

Yao Jingjing, a graduate student of the 2023 cohort from the School of Communication of GZU, is participating in the Looking China-Guizhou project for the second consecutive year. She stated that it is an extremely meaningful project, and she hopes to capture the beauty and uniqueness of Guizhou through her lens and contribute to the telling of China’s stories.

This year, ten young directors from countries such as the USA, Mexico, Slovakia, Romania, and Sri Lanka will join producers and volunteers from the School of Communication of GZU to embark on a two-week filmmaking journey, exploring the beauty of Guizhou in places like Xixiu District of Anshun City and Rongjiang County.

Editor: Pang Aizhong

Chief Editor: Zhang Chan

Senior Editor: Li Xufeng

Translator: Jia Haibo